Multi-function composite cup holder

ABSTRACT

A cup holder includes a sleeve body, a fold line and a cut. The sleeve body defines an opening to receive the container. The fold line is formed on the sleeve body in longitudinal direction, and the cut is formed on the sleeve body in transverse direction and crossed the fold line to define two sections of the fold line. Wherein one section of the fold line is pushed inside along the fold line to form a space to receive an object, the object is adapted to put on a supporting edge formed by the cut and lean against the section of the fold line. Therefore, the cup holder with multi-function is achieved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to holders for containers, and particularly to a holder of a container which protects the user's hand when it is filled with hot drink, and may be adapted to support objects when using in another embodiment.

2. Related Art

Hot beverage is popular even in hot summer At home or a commercial store, hot beverage is served with a cup which is specialized for handling with the situation. Holding any type of such beverage requires that the beverage be maintained upright or it will spill. Thus, the consumer must use his or her entire hand to support the beverage and maintain it in an upright position. Because the beverage is hot, the user's fingers will often become uncomfortable holding the beverage unless there is some type of insulation available around the beverage to separate the cup wall from the user's fingers. Currently, there are several different types of cup-holder insulators to attempt to solve the insulation problem.

Conventional disposable paper cup holders have been formed into circular-truncated-cone-shaped casings having open top and bottom ends. Representative examples of the conventional casings include a corrugated casing which consists of a body and a corrugated sheet attached to an inner periphery of the body.

There is a need for improving the currently available cup holder to have multiple functions to enhance its economic value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to address the drawbacks in the prior art mentioned above by providing a multi-function composite cup holder which have multiple functions.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cup holder including a sleeve body, a fold line and a cut. The sleeve body defines an opening to receive the container. The fold line is formed on the sleeve body in longitudinal direction, and the cut is formed on the sleeve body in transverse direction and crossed the fold line to define two sections of the fold line. Wherein one section of the fold line is pushed inside along the fold line to form a space to receive an object, the object is adapted to put on a supporting edge formed by the cut and lean against the section of the fold line.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the cup holder in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, shown unassembled;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cup holder of FIG. 1 of the present invention, shown assembled;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed of the present invention, in combination with a cup;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed of the present invention in alternative mode, in combination with a cup;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed of the present invention in alternative mode, in combination with a handheld communication device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed of the present invention in alternative mode, in combination with a tablet computer;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cup holder in accordance with second embodiment of the present invention, shown unassembled;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cup holder of FIG. 7 of the present invention, shown assembled;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed in accordance with second embodiment of the present invention, in combination with a cup;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed in accordance with second embodiment of the present invention in alternative mode, in combination with a cup;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed in accordance with second embodiment of the present invention in alternative mode, in combination with a handheld communication device;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an assembled cup holder formed in accordance with second embodiment of the present invention in alternative mode, in combination with a tablet computer;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the cup holder in accordance with third embodiment of the present invention, shown assembled;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the cup holder of FIG. 13 of the present invention, shown in alternative mode;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the cup holder in accordance with forth embodiment of the present invention, shown assembled; and

FIG. 16 is a side view of the cup holder of FIG. 15 of the present invention, shown in alternative mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A cup holder of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-2. The cup holder includes a sleeve body 10, a fold line 11 and a cut 12. The cup holder is shown unassembled in FIG. 1, the sleeve body 10 is in the form of a sheet 18, also described as an elongate band having distal ends. The sheet 18 has a length defined by a first end and a second end. The sheet 18 also has a width, defined by a top and a bottom. The top and the bottom are preferably arcuate in shape. The sheet 18 may be made of paper, thin plastic, or other elastic materials. One end of the sheet 18 has a connecting portion 14. The connecting portion 14 is used to be attached to another end of the sheet 18 to form a circular-truncated-cone-shaped sleeve body 10. Please refer to FIG. 3, the sleeve body defines an opening 19 to receive the container, such as a cup 20, as an usual mode.

The fold line 11 is formed on the sleeve body 10 in longitudinal direction, and the cut 12 is formed on the sleeve body 10 in transverse direction and crossed the fold line 11 to define two sections of the fold line 11. In alternative mode, please refer to FIG. 4, the upper section of the fold line 11 is pushed inside along the fold line 11. The sleeve body 10 will be deformed to form a space 13 to receive an object, such as a cup 20. The cup 20 may be put on a supporting edge 16 formed by the cut 12 and lean against the upper section of the fold line 11.

Furthermore, the cut 12 may include a higher cut 121 at center portion and crossed the fold line 11 and two lower cuts 122 extended from two ends of the higher cut 121. In the alternative mode, the lower cuts 122 forms the supporting edge 16 to support the object and the higher cut 121 forms a tab 15 to prevent the object to slide away from the supporting edge 16. Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6, the object may be a handheld communication device 30 or a tablet computer 40.

A cup holder of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7-8. The cup holder includes a sleeve body 10, a fold line 11 and a cut 12. The cup holder is shown unassembled in FIG. 7, the sleeve body 10 is in the form of a sheet 18, also described as an elongate band having distal ends. The sheet 18 has a length defined by a first end and a second end. The sheet 18 also has a width, defined by a top and a bottom. The top and the bottom are preferably arcuate in shape. The sheet 18 may be made of paper, thin plastic, or other elastic materials. One end of the sheet 18 has a connecting portion 14. The connecting portion 14 is used to be attached to another end of the sheet 18 to form a circular-truncated-cone-shaped sleeve body 10. Please refer to FIG. 9, the sleeve body defines an opening 19 to receive the container, such as a cup 20, as an usual mode.

The fold line 11 is formed on the sleeve body 10 in longitudinal direction, and the cut 12 is formed on the sleeve body 10 in transverse direction and crossed the fold line 11 to define two sections of the fold line 11. The side fold lines 17 are extended from the ends of the cut 12. In alternative mode, please refer to FIG. 10, the upper section of the fold line 11 is pushed inside along the fold line 11. The side fold lines 17 are extended to the edge of the sleeve body 10. Therefore, the sleeve body 10 will be deformed easily to form a space 13 to receive an object, such as a cup 20. Moreover, the side fold lines 17 may improve the structural strength of the deformation. The cup 20 may be put on a supporting edge 16 formed by the cut 12 and lean against the upper section of the fold line 11.

Furthermore, the cut 12 may include a higher cut 121 at center portion and crossed the fold line 11 and two lower cuts 122 extended from two ends of the higher cut 121. In the alternative mode, the lower cuts 122 forms the supporting edge 16 to support the object and the higher cut 121 forms a tab 15 to prevent the object to slide away from the supporting edge 16. Please refer to FIGS. 11 and 12, the object may be a handheld communication device 30 or a tablet computer 40.

A cup holder of a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 13-14. The cup holder includes two set of the fold line 11 and the cut 12. Therefore, the cup holder may provide the space 13 both sides in alternative mode.

A cup holder of a forth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 15-16. The cup holder includes two set of the fold line 11 and the cut 12 with side fold lines 17. Therefore, the cup holder may provide the space 13 both sides at both directions in alternative mode.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cup holder for receiving a container, comprising: a sleeve body, defining an opening to receive the container; a fold line, formed on the sleeve body in longitudinal direction; and a cut, formed on the sleeve body in transverse direction and crossed the fold line to define two sections of the fold line; wherein one section of the fold line is pushed inside along the fold line to form a space to receive an object, the object is adapted to put on a supporting edge formed by the cut and lean against the section of the fold line.
 2. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the cut includes a higher cut crossed the fold line and two lower cuts extended from two ends of the higher cut.
 3. The cup holder of claim 2, wherein the lower cuts forms the supporting edge to support the object and the higher cut forms a tab to prevent the object to slide away from the supporting edge.
 4. The cup holder of claim 1, further comprising at least one side fold line extended from one end of the cut.
 5. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the object is a cup.
 6. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the object is a handheld communication device.
 7. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the object is a tablet computer. 